DEMOCRACY SCHOOL APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED

(9/20/2007) New Haven Residents Have Until Monday to Apply for the Program to Learn the Ins and Outs of City Government

NEW HAVEN- New Haven Residents have a few more days to turn in applications to be part of the Fall 2007 class of the Democracy School, a 6-week program where participants learn the ins and outs of City government directly from decision-makers. Applications were due today but in an effort to give more residents an opportunity to participate, the deadline has been moved to Monday, September 24th.

All six Democracy School sessions are intended to provide participating New Haven residents with information about their government and to open the lines of communication between City officials and the community. With the training they receive at Democracy School, graduates have the potential of becoming community leaders who help to spark constructive change throughout New Haven.

Throughout the existence of this program, a total of 155 New Haven residents have completed the Democracy School curriculum. Participants take part in workshops and question and answer forums led by the heads of various city departments ranging from the police department to the elderly services to parks and recreation. Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. will kick off the Fall program by leading the first session on October 3rd.

“For most, this is just a preliminary step toward getting involved in the New Haven city government in a meaningful way and in making a difference in the community,” said Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. “Alumni from this program go on to serve their ward committees, community management teams, block watches, the Civilian Review Board and become more active with the Board of Aldermen. The measure of a healthy society is its sense of community empowerment. This program has proven very effective in giving people the tools necessary to create change and feel prepared to become community leaders.”

Applications can be found on the City’s website at www.cityofnewhaven.com or by calling 946-7671.